Top 4 Benefits of Mountain Biking

by: Stefan Simonovic

Even though we live in an age where technology has taken over most of the activities we did by ourselves, there are still certain things that people like to do without the assistance of computers or the internet. We’re definitely not talking about online dating where you can find anything from a husband or wife to transgender dating hookups – we’re talking about mountain biking.

In the last couple of decades, mountain biking has held its place as one of the favorite outdoor activities. Just in the US, almost 40 million people practice riding bikes on mountain paths and trails. Still, this number could be even more significant if people only knew exactly which benefits this activity can bring. In that name, here are the top 4 benefits of mountain biking.

1. Lower Risk of Getting Sick

Everyone, and we mean everyone, knows that regularly doing moderate exercises can and will help prevent diseases by strengthening the immune system. When it comes to mountain biking, it’s the same exact story.

In 2016, a team of researchers from the University of North Carolina showed that those who practice cycling of any kind for half an hour for five days of the week take 50% less sick days off in comparison to people who spend most of their time in a seated position with no significant physical activity.

2. Better Mood

While it’s evident that mountain biking has a plethora of health benefits, one of its better traits lies in its ability to improve our mood and reduce our stress.
Apart from being a healthy activity, mountain biking is actually pretty fun. These two attributes are interconnected indeed, as the great physical demands of this activity stimulate the body into releasing endorphins, which is the “happiness hormone.” Furthermore, going for a ride alone on a mountain trail can act as a form of meditation which lets us clear our thoughts and ultimately lets us relax.

3. Better Balance

As we’ve said before, mountain biking is a demanding activity, especially regarding physical readiness. Another important aspect of this is the coordination and balance benefits that we can get from going for bike rides on mountain paths.

While cycling down the street is pretty straightforward, doing the same thing on a mountain where even goats have to use the parking brake is that much more difficult due to the steepness and rough trails. Staying steady is the number one priority here, which helps you train your body to improve its balance and hand-eye coordination.

4. Improved Sleep

At the end of the day, once you get exhausted from all that balancing, meditating and vigorous cycling up and down a mountain slope, you can finally lay down and let your body take a break.

What we mean by this is, of course, sleeping. It’s been proven over and over again that those who put physical stress on their bodies via exercising and outdoor activities sleep much better, which is yet another significant benefit of mountain biking.

About the author:

Stefan is a writer and a blogger in his spare time. He also works for First Beat Media, a company that mainly focuses on the online dating niche and similar services.